Burgiss Allison

Burgiss Allison (1753-1827) was the chaplain of the United States House of Representatives from 1816-1820 and a trustee of what is now George Washington University from 1821-1826.

Allison was born in Bordentown, New Jersey. He studied at Brown University. He became a Baptist minister. He also worked on developing improvements to the steam engine.

Allison also wrote a dictionary, The American Standard of Orthography and Pronunciation, and Improved Dictionary of the English Language, Abridged for the Use of Schools (1815).

Sources

• George Washington University library bio of Allison
• entry on allison's dictionary